Nine New Members to Strengthen Push for Next Generation Wireless Connectivity.

The Singapore White Spaces Pilot Group (SWSPG) today announced its next wave of TV White Spaces (TVWS) commercial pilot deployments in Singapore with Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Development Corporation, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Eurokars Group. Together with the first series of pilots announced in September 2012, SWSPG has created a strong case for transforming TVWS -unused TV broadcast frequency bands – into premium wireless connectivity channels in Singapore for both broadband and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

These announcements were made in line with the inaugural Global Summit on Dynamic Spectrum Access and TV White Spaces, organized by SWSPG and held at the Singapore Island Country Club.

From powering the data needs of mobile workers to enabling M2M communications in a smart city, wireless connectivity can indeed underpin the socio-economic progress of nations today. However, the exponential growth of wireless data traffic has created a strain on communications infrastructures in a world where spectrum resources are finite. Rising to this challenge, governments, policy makers, researchers and industry players are partnering to innovate on both agile spectrum management policies and more efficient spectrum utilization technologies. The set of SWSPG pilot projects are by far the most comprehensive TVWS commercial pilot efforts in Asia Pacific region. They are primary examples of public-private-partnership in adding value to economy and society through a combination of technology and policy innovation.

In recent years, TVWS has leapt onto the centre stage, with both spectrum policy and technological innovation. With supporting regulation, TVWS technologies turn unused TV broadcast frequency bands into complementary and cost-effective wireless broadband delivery channels and offer a new option for M2M data transmission. This is achieved through a set of highly desirable attributes associated with TVWS, including the ability to travel over longer distances and penetrate more obstacles such as trees, hills and buildings than technologies using higher frequencies, such as conventional Wi-Fi.

TVWS can enable greater wireless coverage in areas that were previously not possible due to challenging terrain and can improve business cases for organizations and network service providers through reduced total cost of ownership. The Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) successfully deployed a TVWS network that provides Wi-Fi coverage over its sprawling property covering multiple golf courses and several buildings. The TVWS deployment has delivered wireless connectivity where other technologies had previously failed, allowing for enhanced services for the Club members. The technology was simple and cost effective to deploy. In addition, the TVWS network allows the Club to trial new innovative resource management systems which have the potential of achieving 45% savings on external lighting costs, with SMART lights and the world’s first TVWS chip. (See Annex A for TVWS case study of SICC)

Ms Tracy Hopkins, Corporate Vice President, Neul, said:

“The benefits of using TVWS technology are tremendous, be it to support ‘smart city’ infrastructure, to extend connectivity into previously challenging environments or to enable ubiquitous, reliable wireless connectivity that will enhance our lives.”

“Alongside the commercial pilots, it is essential for the SWSPG and others to look at how this innovative technology really can make a difference in delivering a smarter, greener and safer environment for us all, the applications are only as big as our imaginations.”

Thenew commercial pilots announced today by SWSPG are conducted under a test licence from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and utilize a TVWS Geo-location Database developed specifically for Singapore by Microsoft, with advice and inputs from IDA. These new pilots include:

• Gardens by the Bay: Singapore’s iconic attraction has undertaken a TVWS trial to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to its visitors in a reliable and cost-efficient manner, without intrusive equipment and wiring built-ups over its greeneries. TVWS-based wireless connectivity was deployed to taking advantage of better propagation characteristics of TVWS signal. Currently three different sites at Gardens by the Bay – Supertree Grove, Meadow and Canopy – offer TVWS based Wi-Fi connectivity to visitors.
• Sentosa: Singapore’s premier island resort getaway is implementing a trial to provide Wi-Fi coverage and deploy security surveillance cameras at Siloso Beach, Belawang Beach and the Merlion complex, while demonstrating the co-existence of multi TVWS vendors in a single environment.
• Housing & Development Board (HDB):This pilot project responds to a need for video surveillance for rooftop security, car park enforcement and getting real time video from the lift system in HDB buildings. TVWS technology is expected to add efficacy in getting real time coverage, which would result in enhanced security and safety for the residence.Currently, all surveillance is done using cameras with local storage and manpower is required to collect them when needed. With the use of real time video recordings, it is possible to perform real time video analytics and allow multiple departments to share the same surveillance resources.
• Eurokars Group:Singapore’s flagship car dealership will use TVWS to cost effectively extend their IT network to a number of outlying buildings. This will be complemented with unique concierge services: test-drive vehicle tracking, customer scheduled service management and other customer value added services.

Dr Tan Geok Leng, Executive Director, Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) and Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR, said: “I am proud to say that Singapore is one of the pioneers in TVWS research, and continues to be a trailblazer in the TVWS movement globally. The successful pilots that we have seen in Singapore have set benchmarks in showcasing the potential of TVWS technology in delivering reliable and cost-efficient wireless broadband for multiple of commercial applications. With the new pilot projects, we hope to see TVWS being deployed in many other new and innovative applications.”

SWSPG was founded in April 2012 to develop pilot projects, collaborate on R&D efforts and support Singapore’s plan to implement a regulatory framework for adopting TVWS. Its founding members included I²R, Microsoft, StarHub and Neul and early members included Adaptrum, Power Automation, Singapore Island Country Club, Spectrum Bridge and ZDW Systems.

Today, SWSPG is announcing nine new members, doubling its membership to 18. The new members include:

• Grid Communications: As Singapore’s enhanced network service provider, GRID Communications is committed to offering a fully integrated mobile solution for people who are constantly on the move. Joining SWSPG, the company will deliver powerful technical edge in helping Singapore becoming a truly connected city.
• Terrabit Networks: is an innovative Solution Provider that brings together unique skills in telecoms, RF technology, software and network infrastructure to deliver cost effective communications solutions to customers on time and in-budget and is now deploying TVWS networks in Singapore as part of the SWSPG and in other regions.
• National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT):As Japan’s sole independent administrative institution specializing in the field of information and communications technology, NICT is charged with promoting ICT sector as well as research and development in ICT, which drives economic growth and creates an affluent, safe and secure society.
• Eurokars Group:Is the largest privately held car distributorship in Singapore. It strives to increase shareholder value with a focus on its customers – a unique customer service that strives to differentiate itself from others. TVWS has given the Eurokars Group a unique opportunity to create new and highly differentiated customer service offerings.
• Sentosa Development Corporation: Sentosa Development Corporation manages the Sentosa island resort, Singapore’s Southern Islands and the Mount Faber Leisure Group. It has joined SWSPG to take part in a trial to connect surveillance cameras and provide reliable Wi-Fi coverage on the island.
• HDB:HDB is Singapore’s public housing authority and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development. HDB plans and develops public housing towns that provide Singaporeans with quality homes and living environments. It has joined SWSPG to take part in a trial to use TVWS technology for its video surveillance system to enhance security features in estates.
• NexWave: A regional provider of network engineering services, NexWave builds and manages mobile telecommunication networks for telecoms equipment vendors and service operators in Asia-Pacific. The company has joined SWSPG to take part in trial projects that deliver quality Internet connection to environments challenged by difficult terrain.
• iconectiv:Telcordia Technologies, Inc. doing business as iconectiv, develops market leading neutral solutions including number portability clearinghouses, mobile messaging services, and spectrum management databases. iconectiv is a U.S. FCC certified TV White Space Database and its robust database solution is available for the SWSPG trials.
• ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems): A leading Information Communications Technologies (ICT) solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region. By joining SWSPG, the company will contribute its expertise around trial projects focused on networking and security.

Mr Mock Pak Lum, Chief Technology Officer of StarHub, said: “The addition of these nine new SWSPG members is testament to the potential and demand for TVWS technology in Singapore. We look forward to these new members strengthening our knowledge of TVWS, while at the same time, we are proactively calling out to more research institutes, ICT companies and commercial entities to join SWSPG and be one of the TVWS pioneers in Singapore.”

SWSPG members consist of many world leaders conducting cutting-edge research in both cognitive radio and spectrum database technologies that underpin the TV White Space promises. These R&D initiatives continue to push TVWS technology to new heights. Some recent examples include:

• Cognitive Radio Research: Microsoft Research (MSR) and the NICT Japan have both been active in cognitive radio research and related standards development in international organizations such as IEEE, IETF, and Wi-Fi Alliance. Both are taking leadership to develop and showcase IEEE 802.11af draft standards-based TVWS radio prototypes and are looking into collaboration on enabling world first interoperability and global roaming for TVWS devices.
• TVWS Database Interoperability: Microsoft, Spectrum Bridge, and iconectiv (formerly Telcordia) have each developed a TVWS management spectrum database specifically for Singapore. The companies are collaborating on Database-to-Database coordination and interoperability and intend to showcase multi-DB coexistence in some of the new pilot projects.
• Small cell indoor deployment using TVWS: StarHub and I2R are working with the Singapore Management University (SMU) LiveLabs to conduct R&D on a future high-speed low latency mobile network deployment model. Small cells are miniature mobile base stations that provide a small coverage area indoors or outdoors. TVWS is used as backhaul for the small cells deployed across the campus.

Recognizing the potential of TVWS technology, IDA had started looking into TVWS as early as 2009 and subsequently launched the CRAVE trials for the industry in 2011.

Ms Aileen Chia, Deputy Director-General (Telecoms & Post), Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, said: “We are very encouraged by the progress made by SWSPG in contributing to the TVWS development in Singapore since 2012. The successful pilots conducted by SWSPG members have demonstrated the commercial viability of TVWS technology in Singapore. In 2013, we look forward to greater private-public collaborations to advance TVWS deployment in Singapore.”

To further support TVWS movement in Singapore, IDA today has launched a public consultation to seek views and comments from the industry and members of the public by Q3-2013.

Mr Michael Thatcher, Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Microsoft Asia Pacific, said: “Since 2009, IDA has been instrumental in paving the way for TVWS adoption in Singapore. We are excited to see that IDA has taken a step further in 2013 to set the stage for a transparent and industry-wide discussion on TVWS regulatory framework in Singapore. On behalf of SWSPG members, we are looking forward to actively contribute to this public consultation.”

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ABI Research forecasts that the total revenue, comprising hardware shipments, and service subscriptions, for commercial fleet telematics in the government sector will increase from a total of $618 million at the end of 2012 to $1.26 billion globally by the end of 2018.

In the current economic climate, government and public sector agencies are under relentless pressure to reduce costs whilst at the same time maintain service levels, and are looking at ways of improving the utilization of their vehicle fleets and ensuring that these fleets comply with new regulatory and environmental legislation.

Gareth Owen, principal analyst at ABI Research, comments:

“The main market drivers behind the adoption of telematics in government fleets are government mandates designed, for example, to lower fuel consumption and gas emissions or to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles.”

The US government is promoting the adoption of telematics in federal vehicles by simplifying the purchasing process. Federal agencies can ‘add’ appropriate telematics solutions to vehicles leased from GSA Fleet—the vehicle leasing arm of the federal government—and add the cost of the telematics to their monthly leasing plan. Key providers with pre-qualified Blanket Purchase Agreements to offer services in this way include NetworkFleet, Trimble, and Drivecam. There are similar purchasing initiatives at state and local levels.

“Although there are no plans to mandate telematics adoption at the federal level yet, there are a number of initiatives underway to mandate the use of telematics at state government levels,” adds Owen. State departments typically have more sophisticated requirements as they operate specialized vehicles, such as snow ploughs and refuse vehicles, where there is a need to demonstrate that certain operations were carried out satisfactorily. As a result, telematics is increasingly effective in improving services levels, productivity, and in particular, disputing insurance claims.

Telematics providers who have developed specialized applications to meet such requirements include Teletrac and Sprint (with partner Geotab) in the United States and Masternaut and Digicore (via its Ctrack brand) in Europe.

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Commercial Vehicle Telematics Research Service which provides detailed analytical and quantitative information on developments in the commercial telematics industry around the world.

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Strong focus on security necessary to drive continued M2M deployment in enterprises.

In the next phase of M2M market development that is moving towards an Internet of Things (IoT) future, security requires a holistic approach. Huge increases are expected in the number of machines and objects that communicate with humans and other machines/objects, each processing real-time (or near real-time) data. In such an M2M world, security must become a core component of an enterprise’s consideration when using M2M to achieve business objectives.

Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst, ICT, Yiru Zhong, explained:

“Traditional M2M deployments have security solutions embedded within the network, with the integrity of the underlying communications network being boosted by existing network security solutions.”

“M2M value chain participants – integrated chips manufacturers, SIM card vendors, manufacturers of M2M modules and communication-enabled devices as well as connectivity network providers – have always embedded security solutions within their own products. One of the common comments from these vendors when asked about enterprise adoption of more secure hardware in the lower levels of an M2M network is that current M2M deployments do not actually require a higher level of security. However, in future scenarios, security risks could be magnified or prevalent because of the way M2M applications will be delivered.”

For example, such key ICT trends as cloud computing, increasing enterprise and personal mobility, and Big Data, will affect the way security risks materialise in a generic M2M architecture. While there is no doubt that enterprise reliance on machine data and resultant intelligence will increase – especially as technology tilts the cost-benefit equation through greater efficiency, productivity, and the potential for new revenue streams – security will be a key requirement by enterprises considering M2M deployments.

“In addition to the tremendous number of devices and objects that are going to be connected through communications networks, future M2M deployments will reach deeper into enterprise operations,” observed Zhong. ”Coupled with the development of IoT, this will mean that enterprise M2M deployments could potentially be connected to other systems to enable a true connected-society. The potential application of Big Data in such a setting will demand a well-defined risk analysis policy in terms of data security, trust, and privacy.”

Ericsson’s prediction of 50 billion connected devices by 2020 that would create a truly “networked society,” has seven years to go. ICT industry participants, as well as standardisation and international bodies, are already working towards a viable and sustainable ICT framework for M2M progression. These workgroups will have to incorporate both the needs of enterprises and behaviour of digital citizens in the next generation M2M and IoT scenarios. The outcomes will go a long way in helping ICT industry participants define future security considerations and propose solutions for the safe operation of a connected world.

“Since enhanced security will begin at the lower layers of M2M architecture, M2M modules manufacturers, connectivity providers, and application enablement platform firms will all play important roles in the creation of a market leading portfolios and building a strong ROI business case for enterprises to deploy M2M,” summarised Ms Zhong.

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Maestro Wireless Solutions, the Hong Kong based machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless solutions and design service provider has recently signed a partnership agreement with KORE Wireless Group.

The agreement allows for Maestro Wireless customers to obtain one step privileged access to the KORE network in Asia for startup and development testing, together with world class support and service control via PRiSMPro™.

KORE Wireless is the world’s largest wireless M2M services provider and leading M2M service provider across Asia. KORE Wireless focuses on empowering global M2M application solution providers from industries including utilities/AMI, health, transport, point-of-sales-transaction processing, fleet management and enterprise IT.

The complete portfolio of KORE Wireless’s services and technologies will be now available to Maestro Wireless Solutions customers across Asia under the partnership agreement. Currently more than 180 countries across the world are provided unified control and management for cellular and satellite network service delivery by KORE Wireless.

The agreement includes 2 KORE Wireless SIM Cards with 30MB of data and 20 SMS Messages, usable over 90 days, and exclusive access to the award winning M2M service management platform PRiSMPro™, for each new development kit ordered from Maestro Wireless Solutions. All of this is provided free of charge to Maestro customers.

Emmanuel Pereira, Senior Sales manager Asia-Pacific for Maestro Wireless Solutions, said:
“KORE Wireless enhances Maestro Wireless’s offering and services in Asia by simplifying the development connectivity needs of our M2M prospects and customers.”

“By adding data services, remote management and control for cellular-enabled applications, we cover the value chain more efficiently, help our customers get to market quicker and more easily, and respond to the regional market demand.”

Shane Murphy, Vice President and General Manager at KORE Wireless Asia Pacific, added, “We are very excited about this partnership and combined reach that KORE and Maestro Wireless Solutions provides to both our customers regionally. Since expanding into the Asian region we have identified the needs of end to end M2M data services for business and industry. With KORE Wireless, and the utilization of the M2M service management platform PRiSMPro™, we are able to provide a holistic one point service offering for regional and global business.”

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Wyless announces Partnership with Tech Data to offer M2M and Embedded Mobile Solutions.

Wyless today announced its partnership with Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq: TECD) to offer end-to-end machine to machine (M2M) and Enterprise Broadband Mobility products and services through TDMobility. This partnership includes bundled solutions across both IOT and Enterprise verticals on leading integrated platforms scaling from Cisco to Cradlepoint. The Wyless Managed Network covers 15 Tier 1 Mobile operators worldwide for secure private data connectivity for business critical applications, the Wyless Porthos™ M2M Network Management Platform, and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle management solutions, including installation and break/fix.

As part of the solutions, TDMobility is now offering M2M and Embedded Mobile solutions providing access to the Wyless Managed Network and the award winning Porthos™ management platform. The platform will enable solution providers to quickly and cost effectively deploy end-to-end wireless services without risk and with reduced time to market, along with market leading SLAs and Support.

“This partnership enables TDMobility to offer a best-in-class service in the M2M and wireless data space,” said Charles Kriete, executive vice president, TDMobility.

“Through our partnership with Wyless, TDMobility can now offer the VAR community an all encompassed solution for wireless data, which will result in increased profits for solution providers because it creates a recurring revenue model tied into the offering.”

“We are excited and honored to partner with Tech Data in order to drive M2M and Enterprise Broadband Mobile solutions,” said Dan McDuffie, CEO of Wyless.
“The marketplace is looking for end-to-end solutions, and Wyless, together with TDMobility, will deliver these solutions in a seamless and cost effective manner that goes beyond mobile connectivity, including the Wyless Managed Network bundled with Devices, Application, Installation and Life-Cycle management. We believe that this will be a winning combination that will accelerate growth in acceptance of M2M/IOT and Enterprise Mobile Broadband sectors.”

For more information about Wyless, please contact: www.wyless.com

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Eurotech Everyware Cloud 3.0 Offers Complete M2M Platform with Data and Device Management for the Enterprise.

Eurotech, a leading supplier of embedded technologies, products and systems, today announces the launch of the Everyware Cloud 3.0 platform with remote device management to deliver actionable data from the field to downstream applications and business processes, dashboards, and reports. Everyware Cloud 3.0 can connect sensors, devices or assets quickly to analyze data in real-time for reliable, device-independent M2M applications. New features allow companies to remotely create new services and functionalities on field devices, allowing them to develop and launch innovative product and revenue streams.

Marco Carrer, VP Software Development, Eurotech, said:

“Everyware Cloud is an integration platform designed from the ground up to connect M2M devices to enterprise applications by leveraging secure, open and reliable protocols.”

“Those open protocols allow any type of device to be securely connected and managed, and the new device life cycle management options make Everyware Cloud 3.0 the ideal platform for creating innovative applications while reducing the cost, effort and risks of deploying and maintaining a M2M distributed device infrastructure.”

Everyware Cloud 3.0 has a fully integrated feature-rich device management layer that allows companies to dynamically control, configure and evolve the application that runs on the field device through a fully integrated feature-rich device management layer. The remote management of devices, which is enabled through the Eurotech Everyware Software Framework (ESF) on the device, allows for:

• Remotely install new applications on a gateway
• Remotely manage the settings of the applications on the gateway
• Update an application running on a gateway
• Remotely change the configuration of devices

New data management features in Everyware Cloud 3.0 include data payload compression to reduce the amount of data transmitted from device to cloud, delete APIs to keep the database cleaner and access to real time data, in its native form, for use by the final application. The Everyware Cloud automatically stores device data into a schema-less, distributed, decentralized database that stores data in any format for the market’s longest queryable period.

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Russia cellular operator, one of the biggest Russian three-tuple that launched telematic service in the field of communal services.

Company MeganFon has announced the start of a new project called «The resource under control». The System automatically collects the information about housing consumption of electricity, heat and water. The new product will be available for sale in the B2B market for corporate customers in the Moscow region.

It’s necessary to install an equipment which will transfer the information using mobile network from counters to automatic information and measuring system which is situated on the MegaFon’s server hardware . And then all the information will go to the monitoring center of the management company. With the help of this, the company has a possibility to insert utility bills of subscribers automatically. At the same time, everybody has a possibility to track their costs through the Internet in the private office.

«The resource under control» could give information about the loss of resources on power lines, electricity theft, leak of water or heat transfer fluids. It gives a possibility to have a strong data base in the management company.

Danila Burmetev, head of the department of developing M2M products in MegaFon, said:

“We provide the management company, the finished effective solution which could analyze the consumption of resources and to fix as well as eliminate the waste.”

Experts from MegaFon said that the payback period to flow metering systems of electricity and water for the customers are from one to three years and to flow metering systems for heat are from one to five years.

Company Mefafon pays a lot of attention to the M2M developings. Spanish operator Telefónica and MegaFon signed the agreement within the framework subsidiary of two operators MegaLabs and Telefónica Digital, who could work together for the development of new M2M directions.

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‘GSMA Intelligence’ Unveiled as a Premier Source of Industry Data and Analysis, Serving Operators, Vendors, Vertical Industries and Consumers.

The GSMA today launched GSMA Intelligence, a powerful new data and analysis resource serving the mobile industry. The online portal provides the industry’s most comprehensive set of data points, covering every mobile operator in every country worldwide, alongside market insights produced by a team of experienced industry analysts and experts. The GSMA Intelligence portal is available at https://gsmaintelligence.com

“The mobile industry is one of the most dynamic and transformative technology markets ever, evolving at an unprecedented pace,” said Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA.
“This dynamism presents many opportunities and challenges for players across the mobile ecosystem and the GSMA is in a unique position to provide the intelligence and insights that organisations require to drive future growth and innovation. We’re excited to be addressing this key issue with today’s launch of GSMA Intelligence.”

Hyunmi Yang, Chief Strategy Officer of the GSMA, said:
“GSMA Intelligence enables the GSMA to support strategic decision-making within the industry through the provision of credible market information and analysis.”

“It is critical that industry leaders have accurate and relevant information at their fingertips – the GSMA Intelligence platform will serve this need, making sense of the data and highlighting the trends that matter most for their businesses.”

GSMA Intelligence offers functions tailored to all stakeholders within the mobile ecosystem, including telecom operators, vendors, internet players, vertical industries, governments and regulators, and academic institutions. It also offers new ‘free-to-use’ features designed to engage the billions of individual mobile users worldwide.

GSMA Intelligence centralises the GSMA’s market-leading data and analysis capabilities on a single platform. It is comprised of several components:

• Data & Forecasts: GSMA Intelligence offers the definitive source of mobile operator data and forecasting, relied on by a customer base of over 800 of the world’s leading mobile operators, as well as other key industry players. The datasets are the most authoritative available, widely used as a benchmark within the industry and cited by the media, providing a long-term view on the industry. With over 13 million individual data points (updated daily), the service provides coverage of the performance of all 1,140 operators and 1,153 MVNOs across 3,505 networks, 65 groups and 236 countries worldwide.
• Analysis & Insights: The GSMA Intelligence research team comprises prominent industry analysts, academics and data experts, producing regular qualitative reports across a range of industry topics that serve to tell the stories behind the numbers.
• Mobile for Development Intelligence: An open portal that tracks the economic, environmental and social impact of mobile solutions in the developing world. Its research is aimed at identifying and accelerating investment opportunities in the emerging markets to support the development of mobile services that drive significant customer benefits.
• Documents Library: The GSMA Intelligence Documents Library is an unrivalled collection of industry reports, surveys and papers, supported by an intuitive and powerful search engine. Alongside an archive of the weekly and monthly GSMA Intelligence analyst reports, the library also comprises proprietary GSMA research, as well as selected work by consulting firms and other industry bodies.
• Real-time Feed: The GSMA Intelligence ‘Feed’ provides market insight and data in real time as it is reported by the industry. The Feed uniquely collates contextual snippets and graphs directly sourced from mobile companies and trusted media sources, providing an instant snapshot of key industry trends, informing and enabling real-time decisions.

A basic GSMA Intelligence service is now available free of charge, offering access to the market Dashboards, which provide a ‘snapshot’ of every mobile market worldwide, listing the key in-market metrics and players. Also free-to-use is a new tool called the Timeline, which tracks the evolution of the mobile industry in an engaging and interactive way, providing an introduction to the industry for the billions of mobile users worldwide.

The full commercial subscription offers unrestricted access to all datasets, reports and platform features. GSMA members can access the full service at a significantly reduced rate.

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The ASE Osprey TMC uses Iridium’s Global Satellite Network and the Global Alerting Platform (GAP) to perform remote tracking, monitoring, and control tasks, helping companies to meet their M2M needs.

Applied Satellite Engineering (ASE) is pleased to announce its Osprey TMC Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) modem terminal. The Osprey TMC (Track Monitor Control) is the first commercially available SBD terminal that can provide GPS tracking, analog and digital monitoring and control, with over-the-air configuration and programming. In addition, it is a ready-to-deploy solution that contains a totally enclosed Iridium 9602 modem, embedded antenna, and rechargeable battery. In addition, The Osprey TMC is available with external mount antennas for bay-mounting installations.

Using the Iridium network and two10degrees’ Global Alerting Platform (GAP), the Osprey works any place on the planet, and can remotely track any asset, monitor any sensor, and control virtually any device. This modem terminal performs many applications, including asset tracking with intelligent geo-fence settings and monitoring analog values such as temperature settings, fuel levels, and water levels. The device can also automatically monitor digital inputs, such as door openings, and ignition on/off settings. In addition, the Osprey TMC can control alarms, relays, etc. The Osprey’s vibration monitor is capable of tracking engine run times and sensing other movements with selectable vibration levels.

ASE has chosen GAP, a global messaging services platform to provide M2M communications for the Osprey TMC. GAP is the ‘glue’ that binds Osprey devices together, providing an easy-to-use web-based interface for configuring and tracking devices, and for viewing device metrics.

ASE can also provide back-end servers to strengthen the SBD service’s delivery of Mobile Originated (MO) and Mobile Terminated (MT) messages. ASE can assist companies in integrating the use of the Osprey TMC into their own networks or servers.

Jeff McFarland, President of ASE states:

“We are delighted to offer companies a turn-key, ready-to-deploy device that can handle almost all remote tracking and sensing.

“We also have an “ecosystem” available that provides ready-to-deploy code for companies wanting to install within their company’s IT systems and servers. We are delighted to bring to the machine-to-machine (M2M) marketplace a device that can be programmed and configured over-the-air. This capability is extremely helpful in optimizing air-time usage, allowing the terminal to be tasked with heavy reporting when necessary and then idling at other times, making satellite data costs very affordable.”

Richard Prodger, CEO of two10degrees states: “Our Global Alerting Platform has been designed and built to support devices such as the Osprey TMC. We are thrilled to have been chosen by ASE to support this groundbreaking device, which I feel will be instrumental in advancing M2M capabilities within the satellite communications industry.”

Comprehensive solutions are available that include hardware, server-ready applications and airtime.

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SIGFOX, the Internet of Things operator, brought its ecosystem together on June 5 in Paris to celebrate its first anniversary, and announced the first steps in the international deployment of its network.

To celebrate the first year of its cellular low-bandwidth network dedicated to Machine to Machine (M2M) communications and the Internet of Things (IoT), SIGFOX welcomed some 150 recognized stakeholders in the community from 10 countries, on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. During this event, the operator announced the expansion of its network to Russia and the Netherlands.

A year ago, gathering silicon vendors, infrastructure operators and industrialists in the same place to share and discuss their vision of the future man/object relationship would have been impossible. But today, the prominent place that the Internet of Things occupies unites all of the players in the value chain on the cusp of tomorrow’s Internet.

The Internet of Things provides the opportunity to connect our world’s stimuli to the millions of processors which form the Internet, thus providing direction, anticipating the future and improving everyone’s lives.

According to Machina Research, which assessed the IoT’s state-of-the-art for this event:

“90% of the objects that will link-up via the Web have frugal connectivity needs.”

The SIGFOX birthday event focused on four round tables with representatives for the occasion coming from the United States, China, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Ireland and Spain.

The first roundtable concerned silicon vendors, with a panel of executives from Silicon Labs, Intel, Semtech, ATMEL, Energy Micro and CEA-LETI. These major players, who provide electronic components which transmit the data digitized by the sensors via radio waves, concurred on the issues of cost and consumption required to give the Internet of Things its full potential.

At the round table of infrastructure operators, TDF conveyed its enthusiasm for the collaboration with SIGFOX to deploy its network in France. A speaker representing Deutsche Telekom stressed that the Internet of Things can develop on a large scale through a network complementary to GSM and similar to that implemented by SIGFOX. Furthermore, EADS Astrium highlighted the immense potential of UNB (Ultra Narrow Band), the SIGFOX solution’s underlying technology, linked to a constellation of satellites.

Together, SIGFOX and Astrium plan to launch a disruptive offer to cover the oceans, deserts and countries not equipped with ground antennas.

Two other round tables presented consumer and industrial uses of the Internet of Things and the SIGFOX network in the presence of representatives from Schneider, Hager, Xerox, SEB, Traqueur, Polier Water, Covéa, World Sensing Net China, Digital Enterprise Greenwich and Living PlanIT. They agreed that in the future each of their industries could benefit from the SIGFOX network to propose competitive offers and new uses, limited only by human imagination.

The day’s discussions helped to depict a full panorama of the IoT’s industrial potential in the health, automotive, environment, industry and energy sectors. In addition, participants stressed that IoT can unify other revolutions and trends promoted by Big Data (providing a common core for heterogeneous data), MEMS and other sensors which will exchange data via the Internet in the future.

For Stéphane Nègre, CEO of Intel France:
“the network’s cost is not a value in itself, since all that matters is what it can connect.”

“Taking into account the outstanding economic performance of the SIGFOX network, which combines extremely low cost and the ability to connect billions of objects, essentially this means that SIGFOX will release significant value inherent in applications”.

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Cellular Universal Communications Platform for the Security Industry Uses Telit’s CE910-DUAL CDMA 1xRTT Module.

Telit Wireless Solutions, a global provider of high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, products and services and Sugar Land, Texas based ipDatatel, LLC (IPD), an engineering, design and manufacturing firm, announces that IPD’s Cellular Broadband Alarm Transmitter (BAT) CDMA product uses Telit’s CDMA 1xRTT cellular module, the CE910-DUAL, for wireless data communication. The product is a universal communications platform for the security industry designed to transmit alarms via the Internet and cellular communications and to provide remote device control through devices such as a laptop, iPhone, iPad or Android. The cellular BAT can also provide instant alarm notifications via text, email and computerized voice alerts. ipDatatel focuses on building low-cost high-feature interactive products that are easy to use providing consumers with security and convenience.

ipDatatel’s Cellular BAT is a low-cost, plug-n-play solution for security and home automation applications requiring multiple paths for assured communications, multiple manufacturer support and ease of installation. It overlays or replaces conventional phone land-lines (PSTN) providing high-speed dual-path-IP Internet and cellular alarm connectivity. Alarm transmissions use the security industry’s Contact ID format and are sent to the monitoring center via the PSTN or transmitted directly over IP and are compatible with multiple alarm panel brands including Honeywell, DSC and GE/lnterlogix. Alarm signals such as open/close, trouble, supervisory, latchkey, and monitoring of special devices, can be routed directly to your Central Station or to the end user.

The CE910-DUAL packs high value features in its ultra-compact 28.2 x 28.2 x 2.04 mm Land Grid Array (LGA) package. USB 2.0 full-speed support and a rich set of drivers make it ideal for embedded applications requiring easy integration to platforms based on the latest desktop and mobile operating systems such as Windows and Linux. Full-duplex data rate of 153.6Kpbs and extended operating temperature range of -30°C to +85°C make it a suitable platform for mobile and fixed applications such as security and surveillance, vending, point-of-sale (POS), tracking, smart metering, and telematics.

Mike Ueland, senior vice president and general manager of Telit Wireless Solutions North America, said:
“The BAT-CDMA integrates our CE910-DUAL module which is certified for use on all U.S. CDMA carriers. ipDatatel selected it largely because of the wide migration path to other future mobile technologies such as EV-DO with the DE910-DUAL. The BAT is a great example of how innovators like ipDatatel can leverage their design investments for a long time. The product can remain viable and competitive for many years without being redesigned in any way because of the xE910 form factor family.”

“Today buyers want the ability to be connected by mobile devices anywhere and control their homes and small businesses with the touch of a finger. The BAT’s virtual keypad is compatible with iPhone, Android and most web browsers,” said Russell Vail, president of ipDatatel.

“The challenge with developing an award-wining product like the BAT is the time from engineering to the finished certified product. Being able to leverage existing hardware and software knowledge to produce a product and get it to market quickly is invaluable.”

“There are many modules to choose from, but the Telit team was extraordinarily helpful in defining the path and delivering the product. They met every challenge that was put in front of them, assisting with certification helping to get the BAT to the marketplace in less than six months from concept to reality.”

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Display, monitor and manage safe M2M connections in national and international mobile networks; Telefónica’s in-house development can be flexibly adapted in order to accommodate customer preferences.

Telefónica has launched its new M2M platform in Germany. Smart M2M is an intuitive, web-based solution for automatic machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. This solution is intended for business customers who want to manage, display and monitor their devices efficiently and centrally. Telefónica guarantees the global support of their SIM cards by all Telefónica networks and roaming partners. First German trial customers can already test the new platform.

Whether in vehicles, power meters or consumer electronics: more and more devices automatically send information via SIM cards. Vending machines, for instance, give alerts as soon as the inventory falls below a specified minimum. Intelligent management and monitoring of these connections is becoming increasingly important. For this reason, Telefónica developed the Smart M2M platform in order to make managing M2M solutions secure, flexible and reliable.

Kai Brasche, Vice President M2M at Telefónica Deutschland, said:

“The decisive factor for successfully operating M2M solutions is to combine effective management of large SIM card contingents and to have customer solutions that can be handled easily.”

“With technical expertise, years of experience, and extensive knowledge of many local markets, Telefónica has developed a simple and flexible platform that offers our customers a complete overview of their M2M business processes and that can be used all over the world.”

Smart M2M connects machines from different manufacturers with different data sources. This makes it possible to analyze sensor data such as temperature, tilt angles or the device condition based on standard protocols and then to send that data to other M2M products.

Devices that used to be incompatible regarding their data flow can now easily be connected. The data is consistently edited, individually visualized and logically included into business processes.

This platform is unique to the market and has been developed by Telefónica Digital itself. Smart M2M is not only a ready-to-use solution that enables users to easily manage business processes. The new M2M platform also flexibly adapts to individual customer requirements. Thus, companies do not have to invest into own M2M developments or reorganize their IT processes for machine-to-machine-communication.

The API offered by Smart M2M Platform allows customers and suppliers of the service to integrate their backend systems and processes with the Smart M2M platform to access its data and capabilities. By means of this API, the customer applications can perform some of the tasks available via web such as Customer & Inventory Management.

In addition to real time monitoring of M2M traffic, including volume and advanced diagnostics, Smart M2M also features innovative fraud detection functionalities, including the ability to restrict communications between a list of given devices or the possibility to establish traffic caps.

Telefónica launched Smart M2M at the beginning of this year. The new platform is already being deployed in Argentina, Brazil and Spain, and now is offered in Germany as well.

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Telcos and Developers Can Update Waspmote Sensor Nodes from the Cloud.

Libelium today released a new communications module capable of over-the-air programming (OTAP) via 3G and Wi-Fi for remote management of its wireless sensor platform Waspmote. As a result, firmware updates to Waspmote sensor nodes deployed in any Smart Cities or M2M project can be performed automatically from the Cloud, without the need for physical access to the device.

With the volume of cellular M2M subscriptions forecast by Pyramid Research to increase fourfold from 2010 through this year, and global M2M and telematics market opportunities slated to reach $35 Billion by 2016 according to ABI Research, value-added 3G connectivity services are seen as crucial for carriers and operators to tap into Smart Cities and M2M markets.

Wireless programming is commonly used in the mobile phone industry to provide dynamic software upgrades and services to thousands of devices at once; its use in wireless sensor networks reduces operation costs for large-scale deployments.

David Gascón, CTO of Libelium, said:

“Performing OTAP with 3G technology is an ideal solution for Smart Cities sensor applications such as Smart Parking or Environmental Monitoring where sensor nodes are located underground or attached to streetlights, places that are difficult to access.”

Over-the-air programming simplifies the management of sensor networks for Smart Cities applications and Internet of Things devices that can remain in the field for up to 10 years. Designed by Libelium for such applications, Waspmote is an open source sensor network platform that integrates more than 60 sensors and features a low power consumption mode of 0.07uA for years of battery life.

Over-the-Air Programming (OTAP) via 3G and Wi-Fi for Waspmote

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Four leading mobile operators collaborate to enhance M2M innovation and quality of service across Europe and beyond.

The Global M2M Association (GMA), a cooperation agreement in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) sector between TeliaSonera, Orange and Deutsche Telekom, today announced the addition of Telecom Italia to the association. Through the GMA, four of the leading mobile operators in Europe can now collaborate to deliver best-in-class, enhanced and seamless M2M services, making it easier for businesses to deploy and manage M2M solutions and innovations around the world. The unique partnership provides global coverage with an unmatched European footprint of 28 countries, or 94 percent of the European population.

At the core of the GMA is a strong commitment by all partners to enable unsurpassed global M2M solutions across multiple sectors. Examples include traditional telemetering services, critical eHealth solutions, automotive commercial services and innovative services, such as consumer electronics connected devices. The cooperation agreement also provides customers with many business benefits, including roaming services for a seamless customer experience, enhanced interoperability, innovations and partnership development.

• seamless customer experience: Global customers seek seamless cross-border and multi-domestic M2M solutions. To facilitate a seamless customer experience, the GMA is committed to enhancing roaming quality of service through unified incident management processes, harmonized service level objectives and common procedures for fault reports or escalation.
• enhanced interoperability: All sorts of M2M modules are present in a wide range of devices. The GMA has created a module certification program to provide a unified and industrialized approach toward M2M product specifications, resulting in quicker and more optimized integration into customer machines and devices. Module certification will enable the most optimized interoperability between module and network.
• innovations and partnerships: The four companies are focused on further developing partnerships and fostering innovation by enabling M2M solutions and building a thriving M2M ecosystem with leading partners across the entire M2M value chain to provide customers with simplified services and faster go-to-market opportunities.

“We are excited to enter into this cooperation agreement with three key players in Europe, enabling us to offer the most comprehensive M2M solutions across all sectors,”
Lucy Lombardi, EVP Industry Relations & Cross Business Initiatives at Telecom Italia, said:

“The GMA demonstrates our collective commitment for continued collaboration in the interest of our customers and the M2M ecosystem.”

Mario Polosa, Director of the M2M Project Office at Telecom Italia, added, “The M2M market is already moving quickly, with customers demanding harmonized service architectures without borders. We are firmly convinced that the GMA model is the best solution to consolidate and develop domestic and global opportunities together with our partners.”

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Advanced Metering Infrastructures Changing the Way Utilities Do Business.

Sensus, a leading utility infrastructure company, finds Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) functionalities such as reading interval data, remote service connects and disconnects and outage alarms have all delivered significant operational savings and improved the bottom lines for many utilities. This early success of AMI is creating the need to move more data faster between distinct devices and is raising the bar for what utilities expect in an AMI communications network.

In a recently published white paper “Next Generation AMI: Utilities Benefit from Optimizing AMI Network Operation Using Multi-Channel Allocation” Sensus finds utilities must have a solution that can continue to grow and evolve with the perpetually changing utility business case driven by the need to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction and overcome regulatory challenges.

Key attributes of next generation AMI include:

• True end-to-end IPv6 communication across all platforms for electric, gas, water, Distribution Automation, Demand Response, and lighting control.
• The ability to optimize every endpoint on a utility’s system by utilizing power control, next generation AMI ensures that the network manages the power of every transmission based on need.
• With the availability up to 525 kHz in licensed spectrum, combined with advanced modulation schemes that increase data rates and network capacity, utilities can transmit nearly ten times the amount of data.
• The ability to dedicate distinct channels to specific applications: multiple and distinct channels are another benefit of licensed spectrum that greatly reduces latency.

The white paper can be found in the library section of the Sensus website.

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Two-thirds of electricity generation in South America comes from renewable hydropower, giving it one of the cleanest power sectors in the world. However, there are major problems with electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.

A distribution loss rate of 15.5% is the highest in the world due to pervasive electricity theft and power outages are a continuing problem. As a result, an increasing share of electricity infrastructure spending is being allocated to smart grid investments that can help solve the numerous problems plaguing the region.

Source: Northeast Group

According to Ben Gardner, president of Northeast Group:

“South America stands to achieve some of the largest benefits from smart grid infrastructure among all emerging markets.”

“When we released our first South America study two years ago, there was a lot of potential but limited activity. Since then, several countries have drafted smart grid roadmaps, launched numerous pilot projects and vendor activity has accelerated across the region.”

“Brazil is the leader, but other countries also have made large strides. Ecuador is aiming for full smart meter deployment by 2017, Colombia and Peru are finalizing roadmaps and Chile is developing smart city pilots. Established smart grid vendors are positioning themselves for this huge potential market and new players are entering the sector, such as telecom operators eager to expand their machine-to-machine (M2M) market offerings.”

Download the Northeast Group’s South America Smart Grid: Market Forecast (2013-2023) Volume II brochure

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Xirgo Technologies, Inc., a leader in wireless M2M communication devices has reached a new agreement to sell onboard diagnostic (OBD) devices to insurance companies who commit to licensing Progressive’s Usage Based Insurance (UBI) patents by June 30, 2013.

“Insurance companies who license Progressive’s IP can now quickly and efficiently roll out UBI services using Xirgo Technologies hardware.”
Shawn Aleman, chief sales and marketing officer at Xirgo Technologies, said:

“We are positioned to provide all features of our products, and this represents the necessary element for a seamless product launch and integration with the highest vehicles eligibility level in the UBI industry.”

Xirgo Technologies pioneered zero-install OBD/cellular devices in 2007 as Progressive’s exclusive partner. With over 1.5M OBD devices deployed and over 7 billion miles of driving data captured over various makes and models of vehicles, Xirgo Technologies is the leader in providing hardware for UBI.

“Our goal is to keep Xirgo Technologies at the forefront of the M2M market by constantly introducing new products and services that will set the bar for others to follow,” continued Aleman. “This new supplier agreement with Progressive Insurance helps us reach that goal.”

For more information about Xirgo Technologies, visit www.xirgotech.com

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The company has announced the launch of CSR1010, an AEC-Q100-qualified single-mode Bluetooth Smart embedded device for in-vehicle wireless applications.

CSR plc announces the launch of the first AEC-Q100-qualified single-mode Bluetooth Smart embedded device for automotive applications, CSR1010 auto. The device will service existing and upcoming wireless applications in the vehicle as part of a complete Bluetooth 4.0–based end-to-end solution. It will also increase the integration of smartphones and other consumer devices into the driving experience of the future. The new solution will be demonstrated at Telematics Detroit 2013 from June 5–6 at stand 65.

Use Cases The CSR1010 auto will permit a myriad of Bluetooth Smart applications inside and outside the car, from low-power remote controls to proximity and keyless entry enhancement applications, and eventually in-vehicle wireless sensors, health and wellness applications, and harness replacement applications. Bluetooth Smart enables low-power connectivity and basic data transfer for applications previously limited by the power consumption, size constraints, and complexity of other wireless standards. Bluetooth Smart enables consumers to connect to their cars so that they can have data such as lock/unlock status, tire pressure, and vehicle service information sent regularly to their Bluetooth Smart Ready–enabled smartphones. Before entering the vehicle, information such as navigation destination, itineraries, infotainment, and seat position preferences can be delivered to a vehicle from a smartphone app, to customize the car to a consumer’s specifications.

Benefits for OEMs
Vehicle OEMs can benefit by supplying car model–specific apps that act as the portals for such information, increasing their brand awareness and extending the customer relationship. Bluetooth Smart Ready API support to build such apps is available today on Apple and Blackberry smartphones, while Google announced in May that it will support Bluetooth Smart Ready API’s natively in the next release of Android.

The existing RF systems employed in vehicles today are closed systems, managed by OEMs, and use specific frequencies for specific geographies. Bluetooth 4.0, however, is set to be a gateway technology for the automotive industry because an ecosystem of compatible smartphones, tablets, and automotive head units is already in place, all operating in a globally licensed ISM 2.4 GHz band.

Thomas Carmody, Head of Connectivity Marketing at CSR, said:

“Bluetooth 4.0 allows a variety of information from telemetric and diagnostic to navigation and driver health and wellness to flow between vehicles and portable devices.”

“Given the success of Bluetooth Smart in the consumer space, CSR1010 auto will be the key to securely unlocking these applications, as well as delivering exciting capabilities in previously closed automotive systems, such as keyless entry.”

CSR is already witnessing a trend to adopt the Bluetooth 4.0 standard in vehicles with its CSR8311 and CSR8350 AEC-Q100 devices. Both are Bluetooth 4.0 dual-mode products being selected for in-platforms production in 2013 and beyond.

Product Details
As part of the CSR µEnergy family, the CSR1010 auto is a fully Bluetooth 4.0–qualified embedded device. The chipset is designed to achieve low power consumption and low overall system cost. It is equipped with a low-power application CPU, hardware MAC unit, and embedded power supply to achieve market-leading power consumption during connection and to support direct coin cell battery operation. Additionally, the chipset is fitted with a 128-bit AES encryption engine, 12 GPIOs, 3 AIOs, onchip balun, pulse-width modulation controller, and interfaces to EEPROM and serial-Flash to offer high degrees of flexibility and highly secured communications in various practical automotive applications.

Data throughput from CSR1010 auto can exceed 64 Kbps, enabling, for example, voice-activated commands that improve driver safety. This is realized via the proven protocol stack working harmoniously with the Bluetooth 4.0 modem of CSR1010 auto, which is crafted to achieve high-bandwidth efficiency.

The CSR1010 auto solution also includes a software development kit with a comprehensive set of example applications to exercise the latest Bluetooth Smart profiles. For automotive designers, the SDK will include automotive-specific example code to jump start the development process, such as keyless entry enhancements and infotainment system remote controls.

CSR1010 auto comes in an automotive-friendly small form factor 0.5 mm pitch QFN package. Samples, development boards, and software development kits are available today. CSR1010 auto is expected to be fully AEC-Q100-qualified by October 2013.

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Companies’ Combined Portfolios Enable the Internet of Things, Smart Energy and Portable Electronics

Silicon Labs, a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Energy Micro AS. Based in Oslo, Norway, the late-stage privately held company offers the industry’s most power-efficient portfolio of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) and is developing multi-protocol wireless RF solutions based on the industry-leading ARM® Cortex-M architecture. Energy Micro’s energy-friendly MCU and radio solutions are designed to enable a broad range of power-sensitive applications for the Internet of Things (IoT), smart energy, home automation, security and portable electronics markets.

This strategic acquisition accelerates Silicon Labs’ growth opportunities and positions the company as the foremost innovator in energy-friendly embedded solutions. The growth of the IoT market, coupled with continued deployment of smart grid and smart energy infrastructure, is driving strong demand for energy-efficient processing and wireless connectivity technology to enable connected devices in which low-power capabilities are increasingly important. Industry experts predict that the number of connected devices for the IoT will top 15 billion nodes by 2015 and reach 50 billion nodes by 2020.

Energy Micro’s portfolio complements Silicon Labs’ 32-bit Precision32™ MCU, Ember® ZigBee® and sub-GHz wireless products and targets a growing embedded market. The acquisition greatly expands Silicon Labs’ MCU portfolio, adding nearly 250 ARM-based EFM32 Gecko MCU products ranging from extreme-low-power, small-footprint MCUs based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ core to higher-performance, energy-friendly MCUs powered by the Cortex-M4 core capable of DSP and floating-point operations. The acquisition is expected to enhance Silicon Labs’ radio portfolio with the addition of Energy Micro’s ultra-low-power EFR Draco radio products. These versatile wireless transceivers and system-on-chip (SoC) devices will support frequency bands ranging from sub-GHz to 2.4 GHz and multiple standard and proprietary protocols including Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), 6LoWPAN, ZigBee, RF4CE, 802.15.4(g), KNX, ANT+ and additional protocols.

“Silicon Labs and Energy Micro share a complementary vision of a greener, smarter, wirelessly connected world, and the foundation for this combined vision is ultra-low-power technology enabled by each company’s innovative mixed-signal design,”, said Tyson Tuttle, president and CEO of Silicon Labs.

“This acquisition combines two proven leaders in nano-power MCU and wireless SoC design into a formidable force that will accelerate the deployment of energy-friendly solutions across the Internet of Things and smart energy industries.”

The company expects the addition of Energy Micro’s EFM32 Gecko MCUs and EFR Draco Radios, ultra-low-power technology expertise, energy-aware Simplicity development tools, and world-class design and applications teams will drive the rapid expansion of its Broad-based business. Silicon Labs intends to apply these complementary embedded technology platforms and expertise to enable the industry’s most energy-efficient solutions for the burgeoning IoT and smart energy markets, as well as the proliferation of battery-powered portable electronics devices. In addition, both companies’ 32-bit MCU and wireless products leverage the same ARM Cortex-M architecture, which is expected to accelerate the combined roadmap and support rapid adoption among the existing customer base.

“The Energy Micro team is excited to join Silicon Labs,” said Geir Førre, president and CEO of Energy Micro, who after the closing, is expected to become vice president and general manager of Silicon Lab’s Energy-Friendly Microcontroller and Radio business unit, based in Oslo.
“Silicon Labs’ excellent resources and technology will help the combined company develop new products and gain market share more quickly. The combination of our broad portfolios of energy-friendly MCU, radio, wireless connectivity and sensing solutions will redefine ‘ultra-low power’ for the embedded industry. Our unified solutions will give customers a large choice of 32-bit microcontroller and sub-GHz, ZigBee and Bluetooth LE connectivity options based on the most energy-efficient ARM platforms in the industry,” he said.

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Global insurance telematics subscriptions are expected to grow at a CAGR of 81% from 5.5 million at the end of 2013 to 107 million in 2018.

“With Progressive’s Snapshot having attracted more than 1 million drivers in the US and Octo Telematics already counting close to 1.3 million UBI customers – mainly in Italy – insurance telematics is now entering the mainstream market, at least in certain countries.”, says VP and practice director Dominique Bonte.

“The emergence of smartphone-based solutions, the gender ruling in the EU, and growing awareness of insurers to move to a more proactive safety, preventive, and service/CRM based approach improving the customer experience and loyalty will be strong drivers for growth in the near-to mid-term.”

However, in the longer term, with the emergence of active safety systems based on ADAS and V2X technology and various forms of semi and fully autonomous driving and the drive towards a zero accident risk environment, the auto insurance industry will face new paradigms which will fundamentally change the nature of their business. The whole concern about accurately monitoring the driver behavior and calculating the risk of the human driver getting involved in an accident disappears when contemplating insurance for cars without a driver.

While traditional auto insurance revenues will ultimately unavoidably decrease, insurers’ expertise in automotive analytics and statistics will offer new opportunities in a burgeoning Internet of Things in which big data skills will be one of the most sought-after capabilities—another example of how technology will dramatically transform a traditional industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

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